Rep. Kevin Aguiar bested retired police officer Alan Silvia by 280 votes to gain the Democratic nomination in the Seventh Bristol District, according to unofficial totals Tuesday. Aguiar moves on to the general election to face Republican CJ Ferry, a registered nurse and local businessman, who was unopposed inhis primary.

Aguiar moves on to the general election to face Republican CJ Ferry, a registered nurse and local businessman, who was unopposed inhis primary.

Aguiar defeated Ferry decisively two years ago.

Aguiar’s margin of victory was 53.8 percent to 46.1 percent for Silvia, with more than 3,600 votes cast in the city’s South End. The seat had been held for 30 years by Robert Correia before he was elected as mayor in 2007.

Aguiar has held the seat Correia resigned since winning a special election in March of 2008. He also served eight years on the city's School Committee.

“It was a good win and a tough year,” Aguiar said, noting the bad economy and the loss of both his parents during this term.

Aguiar, who turned 38 last week, said he felt his campaign and its volunteers showed residents “that we’ve done a good job in a tough economy,” he said. He said they stressed the need to bring jobs and “Fall River’s fair share” from Beacon Hill.

“We did not stoop to negatives that my opponent did, and we came out on top,” said Aguiar, who left his job as a guidance councilor job in the New Bedford school system three years ago to seek state office.

Silvia, 58, who retired as a 20-year police detective in 1996, said, “We fought the good fight. … I did put my heart and soul into it.”

He reiterated criticisms of Aguiar’s performance as a state representative, stating they were not personal.

“I’m very proud of the way we ran our campaign. We attacked the position and the way the seat was being run,” Silvia said. “He hasn’t provided constituent services.”

“I congratulate the representative on his win, and I hope the people are happy,” he said. After being joined by supporters at McGovern’s after the close race, he said he planned to call Aguiar in the morning.

Silvia, saying he’s known Correia since he was 12, said the district had daily constituent services for the three decades the longtime legislator was in office. He said Correia did not play an active role in his campaign.

Silvia, who has worked in human services for the past decade and holds an advanced degree in the field, said he’d remain active politically. “I have very strong group support that believes in me and I may look at another race in the future.”

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Aguiar holds a master’s degree in education and bachelor’s in psychology. He worked for Citizens for Citizens for a decade.

“I’m looking forward to a big victory in November and serving the district the next two years,” said Aguiar, who said he was proud of how his campaign supporters backed him.

Ferry said he welcomed the rematch despite his lopsided loss — 80percent to 20 percent — in the 2008 election.

“We can talk about his record and what he’s failed to accomplish,” Ferry, 44, said.

What will the challenger stress the next two months?

“That taxes are too high, jobs are too few and Beacon Hill is broken.”